A Swiss company, Mootral, has found that a garlic extract can be fed in cattle rations to reduce methane emissions and boost milk production.
The research follows similar successful work with humans.
Mootral figured governments would be interested in reducing greenhouse gas emissions in cattle burps and farts, so it began researching its garlic-based product in cattle rations.
It has determined optimum amounts and now is going to test its recipe on different breeds. The Mootral supplement is alicin extracted from garlic by a company in China.
Mootral was concerned that too much alicin might give milk and meat a garlic flavour, hence its research for the optimum amount.
Mootral said its supplement will cost about $75 per cow per year.
